Archive for the ‘Parenting’ Category

Today my son turns six. Last night, before he went to sleep, he told his mom, “I don’t think there’s really a tooth fairy. I think darkness and light meet in the night and turn the tooth into money.” All kids are born with imagination. I’m glad we haven’t killed his.

The first two years of his life, I was such a neurotic parent that my only goal was KEEP HIM ALIVE! DON”T LET HIM DIE. After he turned two, my goal was not to break his spirit, but rather keep him in love with life. He seems happy, so now I guess I should extend my parental ambitions. I think my new goal is to keep his imagination alive. So far so good.

At church Sunday, our new interim minister said something paricularly poignant, and tears welled in my eyes. Jed looked at me and studied me, the way I’ve studied him so many times. He looked to be trying to figure out what was going on in my mind. This made me aware that he is now a person–a thinking, wondering, imagining, analyzing person. I felt at once a joy in welcoming him to a thoughtful life, but also melancholy that his innocence is now vulnerable.

At any rate, I’m glad I’ve spent much good time with him these six years.